Telephone-cabinet.



im Q1 A PATENTED MAR. 29, 1904.

W. B. ALTIGK.

TELEPHONE CABINET.

APPLIOATIox FILED nu 1e. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

A 7' ToRNEY.

UNITED STATES Patented March 29, 1901.

PATENT GEEICE.

TELEPHONE-CABINET.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,091, dated March29, 1904. Application filed May 16, 1902. Serial No. 107,585. (Nomodel.)

.To (tlf, '1r/mnt it 71u14/ concern.-

Be it known that I, vWILLIAM B. AL'IICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelephonc-Cabincts;

and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and usc the same.

This invention relates to improvements in a telephone cabinet or closetof that class in which a suitable casing or frame is provided with afolding or extensible wall made in one section and adapted to close oropen the forward portion of said casing or frame, with the top and oneside thereof provided with transparent plates for the admission oflight.

The object of the invention is to provide a compact folding orextensible cabinet for the purpose of insulating a telephone or cutting'it ott as much as possible from all outside sounds or noises while usinglsaid instrument, said noises and sounds being extremely annoying aswell as detriment-al to satisfactory communication; and the inventionmay be considered as an improvement on that embodied in the previousapplication for Letters Patent, tiled October 8, 1901, Serial No.77,963, greatly simplifying the construction.

The elements of the invention will severallyv and at large appear in thefollowing description, and they will be separately or combincdly setforth or pointed out in the appended claims.

The purposes of the invention are attained by the mechanism, devices,and means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, with similarreference characters to designate like parts throughout the severalvie\vs,in which- Figure lis a perspective view of a telephone-cabinetembodying the elements of the invention with the central portion brokenaway, the upper portion thereof closed, and the lower portion opened;Fig. 2, a vertical central section practically on the line .fr in Fig.1; Fig. 3, a direct top view of Fig. 1 with the portion practicallyabove the line y y I/ relnoved, showing the wall partially eX- tended,with the upper ends of its posts, wings, and lining appearing in fulltop view; Fig. 4, a direct top view ot' the lower portion of Fig. 1;Fig. 5, an inverted view of the top portion removed froInF ig. 1; Fig.6, a front and a side elevation, both enlarged, of the upper end of oneof the wall-posts; Fig. 7, a front and asectional elevation, alsoenlarged, of the lower end of the same post: and Fig. 8, a detached planof the extensible wall with rollers and lining removed.

1n the drawings, A designates the casing or the aliixed portion of the.cabinet referred to in the opening paragraph hereto, which cahinet, likethat in said former application. has the required dimensions to house atelephone as well as to completely inclose the person of the individualusingsaid instrument, the cabinet being adapted to be placed iu uprightposition and rigidl)` affixed against a side wall of a hall, room, oroliice containing said telephone without encumbering said hall, room, oroffice, occupyinga minimum of space therein, and when not in use bringpractically out of the way; but the wall is not shown.

ln the construction of the easing or frame A is shown a back board orwall-plate l ot' a size equal to the height and width of the cabinet andhaving at its upper end a forwardlyextending top plate a', making aright angle therewith, with its rearward end edge rigidly securedthereto, as by nails or screws, said top plate having parallel straightside edges extending forward a prescribed distance from its rearwardend, with its forward portion preferably eircularly rounded, as shown,and having on its under surface, a short distance from the edge thereof,a depending wall or rib a2, forming an inverted-L-shaped recess fr thcwhole way around said edge, while against the outer face thereof issecured in any approved manner a strip a, forming with said recess ai achannel a, constituting a passage-way in which move vertically-disposedrollers guiding the upper end of the extensible wall, yet to bedescribed, and in the body of the top plate is formed an aperture e,which is closed by a transparent plate A' for the admission of light;

but two plates may be arranged in parallel planes with a space betweenthem to close this aperturewithout changingthechariuterofthe invention.\\'ith its rear edge rig'idly secured to the lower end of said wall orback plate and 1 arranged in a plane parallel to said top plate isabottom plate ff, being similar in horizontal .size and contour to thetop plate f1', said bottom plate having in its upper surface at i therequired distance from the surrounding edge thereof a groove ai, inwhich more swiveled rollers 6T, guiding lhc lower end of said extensiblewall, while against the parallel .straight edges of the top and bottomplates n' fr?, as well as against the forward surface of the wall-plater1, are rigidly secured the upper and lower ends and the rearward edgesof side boards u. and through an opening in one of said side boards isseated and secured a sashframe A, provided with a transparent plate A ora pair of such plates for the admission of light, thus completing thecasing.

lnclosing or opening the forward portion of thi,` casing or the openspace between the top and bottom plates thereof is an extensible andcontractible wall B, comprising a rear end post f, a front end post lf',and the required number of intermediate posts if' if /12 2, all ofapproved width and depth and having a length practicallyv equal to thedistance between the top and bottom plates of the 'asing, between whichplates they are mounted and intended to move to and fro, with theirwidth and depth serving to acconnnodate the hing'ed wings, yet to bedescribed. The posts throughout the series have their adjacent sideedges sidewise and inwardly rabbeted out, so as to form L- shapedrecesses /f in .said side edges, into each of which recesses is placedone side edge of a wall-wing and hinged to the inner or rearward side ofits post hy two or more straphinges ff, said wings in pairs having theirother side edges meeting' and hinged together by similar strap-hingeslf', secured to the adjacent surfaces of the wings. These posts havesecured to the outer surfaces of their lower ends plates with swiveledarms or rods carrying on their lower ends directly under thepostspivoted rollers /engaging in the groove e of the bottom plate,supporting and guiding said posts in place, and the posts have secmed tothe outer surfaces of their upper ends plates with pairs ofupwardly-projecting spinl dles. carrying thereon vertically -journaledrollers Il, engaging' in the surrounding channel n" of the top plate,each pair of rollers preventing its post from turning. These posts andwings thus hinged together and supported are provided with a lining B,ofany approved ll material, entirely covering their inner surl facesfrom the forward side edge of the for- I ward end post to the rearwardside edge of i the rearward end post along' which edges l said lining isrigidly atiixed, as by rows of headed tacks or nails driven into saidposts,

and the lining' extending from said rearward l end post up to andagainst the inner surface of the back or wall plate n, where its endedge is rigidly secured to the inner surface of the adjacent side boa rdf/"', also, by a row of headed tacks or nails driven into said sideboard, which tacks or nails are likewise designated by tf', and saidliningl extension, with its rear end edge thus secured, constitutes astop preventing the further forward progress of said rear end post whenthe wall is extended or the cabinet closed and yet hy doubling orfolding up allowing said post to move back against the back board a whenthe wall is contracted or folded or the cabinet opened, while hooks ff,driven into the inner surfaces of the intei-mediate posts [if near theirupper ends and engaging tln'ough the body of the lining' adjacent to theupper edge thereof, serve to support said lining between said rear andtorward end posts 6'. At the desired point the forward end post 7;' isprovided with a knob or pin B", constituting a hand-grip, whereby thewall is extended in one direction and contracted or folded in another,as when closing and opening' the cabinet. Against the forward edges ofthe side boards a arey rigidly secured elastic or pliable strips Bi toengage against or to contact with the rear and front end posts when thecabinet is closed, closing possible vents which may appear. \\hen thecabinet is placed in position, a lining B, of any approved material.entirely covering' the entire back board u, is placed between said boardand the \'all against which said cabinet l is to be erected, and alining BT, of the same material, is placed between the bottom plate 17and the lioor upon which it is to stand,both for the purpose ofinsulating the cabinet and cushioning it from any vibration from thebuilding.

lt will here be remarked that the cabinet hereinbefore described ditiersfrom that described in said `former application, in this, that the sideboards if are provided in addition to the back board supporting the topand bottoni plates to constitute the casing A; that one of the sideboards agis provided with a transparent plate or two such plates inparallel planes for the admission of light in addition to the plate orplates placed in the, top plate if; that in the adjacent surfaces of thetop and bottom plates the guide-recesses with the central grooves arcomitted, the former plate havinginstead the vertical rollerguide channelfr and the latter plate having i instead the roller-guide groove 11;that the inclosing wall is composed of one section with all thewing-supporting posts movable instead of two sections with their rearend posts in affixed positions; that said Vall is adapted to close oropen the space from and between the forward edges of the side boardsa",- that said wall is adapted to be folded within the space behind oneof said side boards a when IOO the cabinet is open; that the' portion ofthe wall-lining' extension beyond the rear wallpost in beine' secured tothe post and to the adjacent side board f/"ronstitntes a` stoppreventing' thiI movement ot' said post bevond the foi'ward edge of saidside boai'd` and that tht` elastic sti'ips B b their contact with thei'ear and front end postsof the wall when said vall is extended willclose all vents or openings that ma)v be therebetween.

The inventioi'i having' been thus ascertained and described and tln`manner in which it is perforn'ied fully shown and set forth. what is lconsidered new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, isf# l. Ina cabinet` a casing' comprising' a back wall-plate.` a top plate and abottom plate` side boards secured to the back plate and extending fromthe top to the bottom plate` packing-strips along the front edges of theside boards, an extensible wall comprising' movable posts and foldabl(`wings adapted to close the forward portion ofthe casing' between the topand bottom plates, and means on said easing for admitting' lightthereto, substantially as described.

2. In a cabinet. a easing'eoinprising' a wallplate with top and bottoniplates projecting' I in parallel planes from the upper and lowei' endsthereof but perpendicular therewitlnand side boards secured to said topand bottom plates and to said wall-plate` said side boards closing thei'earward portions of the sides of l said easing, with transparentplates in said top plate and one of said side boards, and an extensiblewall made in one section but composed of movable posts and. foldablewings adapted to elose or open the forward portion of said casingbetween said top and bottom plates, substantially as described and forthe purpose hereinbefore set forth.

3. Vln a` cabinet, a casing comprising a back wallplate` a top plate anda bottom plate projecting' from the said wall-plate, side boards securedto the wall-plate and extending from the top to the bottom plate. saidtop plate and side boards having openings, transparent plates seated inthe openings, and an extensible wall having one end secured to one ofthe side boards and comprising movable posts and hinged wings adapted toclose the forward portion of the casing, substantially as described.

4. fIn a` cabinet, a casing, an extensible wall Comprising movable postsand hinged wings 1 adapted to close the casing', and a` lining' covlerinp" the interior ot' said wall. substantially as described.

ln a cabinet. a casing'comprising' a back plate. a top plale, a bottomplattI and an extensible wall composed of movable posts and hingedwings. a eushionilig-packing' covering' the back of the said bar-tYplate, and a cushioning-packing' covering' the bottom of the` saidbottom plate. substantially as described.

(i. ln a cabinet. a casing' comprising' a bach wall-plate, a top plateand a bottom plate proieeting from said wall-plate` said plates having'seniicircular forward ends and provided with a groove and agiiidewav`side boards secured to the wall-plate and extending' from the top to thebottom plate` an extensible wall Composed of movable posts and hingedwings adapted to close and open the forward portion 0f the casing, andvertical rollei's engaging' in said groove and way for supporting andguiding said wall, substantially as described.

7. In a cabinet, a casing, a closure for said casino' comprising movableposts and hinged wings, swiveled rollers for supporting` the Closure,and rollers for guiding' the closure` siibstantiall)V as described.

8. In a Cabinet, a easii'ig having a haelt plate provided with paralleltop and bottom plates,

` said plates having' rearward straight sides and semicircularforwardends, side-closing' boards secured to the said straight sides. said topplate i provided with a horizontalLv-disposed rollerwa'yv and saidbottoni plate having` a eori'esponding' roller-groove. an extensiblewall composed of movable posts each having' a pair ofvertically-journaled rollers at itsupper end engaging' in said wa)v anda swiveled roller on its lower end engaging' in the groove, pairs otwings hinged together and having' their inner edges hinged to the posts.a` lining' covering' .said posts and wings rigidly secured to theforward end post and to the i'ear end post, said 1 lining extending'back of said rear post and secured to the haelt plate, transparentplates secured in the top plate and one of the side boards, and meansfor moving' the extensible wall to open and close the forward portion ofthe casing'. substantiall5v as described` 1n testiinonf.Y whereof l alhxniv signature in presence of two witnesses.

XYILLIAM B. ALTIUK- Witnesses:

PAUL A. linnn, DANIEL Il. linnn.

